The RoundHouse | 6/27/2024 8:48:00 AM
Counting down 2023-24's top stories for Wichita State athletics:
By Paul Suellentrop
New coach
Paul Mills guided his men's basketball team in the right direction late in the season by winning five of the final eight games. That stretch included a 74-66 win at eventual AAC tournament champion UAB and a 71-65 win over Memphis in the second round of the tournament.
More important, the Shockers started 2024-25 strong by retaining eight members of the team, plus additions that make the team experienced, physically mature and with about as much continuity as the era allows.
Center
Quincy Ballard, guard
Xavier Bell and forward
Henry Thengvall are back for a third season at WSU.
Yanis Bamba and
Joy Ighovodja return for their sophomore seasons. Forwards
Harlond Beverly and
Ronnie DeGray III and guard
Bijan Cortes return for a second season after all three finished 2023-24 on an upswing.
"We're not here to be competitive," Mills said "We're here to win championships. The first thing that you do is that this is all about the people. Not only do you have the right people from a character perspective, you have to have the right caliber of people."
Additions to the team include senior guards Justin Hill, a transfer from Georgia, and AJ McGinnis, a transfer from Lipscomb. Forward Corey Washington, a transfer from St. Peter's has two years of eligibility remaining.
Center Matej Bosnak, from Croatia, and forward Zane Meeks, a transfer from Arizona State, joined the roster in June. Freshmen TJ Williams, from Heights High School, and Zion Pipkin, a guard from Houston, signed in November.
"Any time you can retain people who, not only contributed, but are experienced, you're giving yourself a real opportunity," Mills said. "They've been around the block. They've been with us as a staff. They understand what it takes to contribute to a winning program."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
